Osan PWOC

Welcome Back!

2011-01-06T20:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to a new semester with PWOC! We hope you all enjoyed the holiday season with friends and loved ones, and you are ready to start 2011 with a fresh commitment to serve God! We'll be kicking off our spring semester on January 10, 2011 at 1900 in the Chapel Annex. Please join us for registration, refreshments, and a chance to choose your study for the up-coming semester. We are offering two studies: Beth Moore's "Daniel" and Linda Dillow's "Calm My Anxious Heart." You can read more about each study by clicking on the names above. We will also have a brief introduction to each study at the kick-off. Studies will be offered Monday night, Tuesday morning, or Thursday night and you will have a chance to choose your preferred time and study during the kick-off. We hope to see you all there!

And, before I go, I think there's no better way to start off 2011 than by remembering the PWOC theme for this year, "Shine in the Light of His Glory!" I pray this verse over each and every one of you as you begin a new year and a new chapter in your journey with Christ:

"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you! For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." -Isaiah 60:1-2

Praise the Lord!

The Lovely Ladies of PWOC

2010-12-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

Just had to share this picture of some lovely PWOC ladies enjoying yet another social opportunity. This picture was taken during a trip shopping for antiques. Look at all those beautiful smiling faces. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-23T18:11:00.001-08:00

Ladies-

As you all begin your preparations for this holiday season, please take a moment to reminder WHO you are thanking during your Thanksgiving feast. People tend to forget that Thanksgiving was a holiday created to thank God for our many blessings. Below is the original proclamation from Abraham Lincoln, given October 3, 1863, during the midst of the Civil War. Though given almost 150 years ago, his words still ring true for our world today. . .

"The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the everwatchful providence of almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed."

--President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, October 3, 1863

Happy Thanksgiving, and "thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Walking in Faith

2010-10-10T23:22:00.000-07:00

Ladies-

We are so excited to have you back (or for the first time) with PWOC! We're a couple of weeks into our fall studies, and we hope you're all learning so much through the study you've chosen. There is nothing more powerful than reading and sharing God's word through weekly fellowship. We're so happy that you've chosen to continue your walk with the Lord through PWOC. Enjoy this devotional from Dr. Charles Stanley about walking with Jesus:

"Colossians 2:5-7: 'For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.'

Christians generally associate faith with their salvation experience, and rightly so. By believing in Christ, we enter into a relationship with Him. But that's not the end--afterwards comes a lifetime of walking with Him.

Since the word 'walk' is used to describe behavior and conduct, we may mistakenly conclude that after salvation, the Christian life is all about performance. But today's verse clearly states that we walk in Christ in the same way we received Him--by faith. This means we place our trust in Him for every circumstance of life. To help us understand this, Paul uses some phrases which describe how confidence in God grows:

'. . . having been firmly rooted . . ." --At the moment of salvation, believers are 'planted' in Christ. Our roots grow deep as we anchor ourselves in the Lord, drawing our spiritual nourishment from Him.

' . . . being built up in Him . . . " --The believer's life is built on the foundation of the Savior through obedience. God wants us to chose precious and valuable building material that will last into eternity. (1 Cor. 3:10-15)

'. . . established in your faith . . . " --In time, as we begin to understand more about the Lord and how He operates, our trust in Him increases, and we experience stability, even in the winds of adversity.

In our goal-oriented society, its easy to forget that walking in Christ is a process. While on earth, we never 'arrive' but are slowly transformed along the way. As we trust the Lord, our hearts will overflow with gratitude for all His blessings and the stability He offers in every circumstance."

This devotional is from http://www.crosswalk.com/. Feel free to visit for more devotionals and other resources for Christian living.

Welcome Back!

2010-08-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

PWOC is finally returning from our summer hiatus! We hope you all had a wonderful summer, whether here, abroad, or back home in the States. We're looking forward to seeing our returning ladies and meeting new members very soon!

We wanted to let you guys know about a few things happening with the chapel. The first is that their are two part-time paid positions available within the chapel, both involving the Protestant Children's Ministry. One position requires teaching children during one Sunday service, during the Tuesday morning PWOC bible study, and any other time the chapel may need your assistance (for example, during marriage retreats.) The other position is for a part-time coordinator. This position would involve finding workers to help teach children's ministry during PWOC bible study time. For more information or to bid on either position, please visit the chapel office any time Monday through Friday between 0800-1500. You can also call the chapel at 031-661-5000.

Because of these open positions, bible study will now be held on Monday evenings OR Tuesday mornings. Stephanie Caudle will continue to offer the Tuesday evening at the Hospitality House, as usual. All of these times will be without children's ministry. We have given these options to better accommodate parents in finding care for their children. Kick-off is scheduled for Monday, September 13 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Chapel Annex. During that time, you will be able to pick your preferred time and study. The Monday evening/Tuesday morning group will be offering two studies:

"Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit" by Beth Moore and "Managing Your Moods" from the Women of Faith Series.

Stephanie Caudle's Tuesday evening group will be studying "Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted" by Priscilla Shirer.

Please click on any of the titles of the study to learn more about them. Please bring $10 to the kick-off for the book fee.

Please get the word out to friends and neighbors who you believe may be interested in one of these paid, part-time positions in Children's Ministry. This is a vital part of the Osan community.

Thank you, ladies. We look forward to seeing you soon and studying God's Word with you in the up-coming semester.

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." --Isaiah 60

Picnic in the Park

2010-06-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Ladies-

Don't forget that tomorrow is our Picnic in the Park at Mustang Valley Park from 0930 to 1100. For current PWOC members, the list of pitch-in's is as follows:

Last name beginning A-J: please bring a finger food baked good (muffins, oatmeal bars, etc.)

Last name beginning K-R: please bring a veggie or fruit finger food (carrots, celery, berries, etc.)

Last name beginning S-Z: please bring bottled water, boxed fruit drinks, or paper towels.

This is a wonderful outreach activity so please invite your friends who are not PWOC members and/or those who have just PCS'd here to Osan. We'd love for them to come hang out, eat, and get to know some of the lovely ladies of PWOC.

Looking forward to seeing you all there! :)

The Light of the World

2010-06-13T23:47:00.000-07:00

One of our wonderful new chaplains, Chaplain King, had a powerful sermon yesterday that went along so well with the new PWOC theme. Reading from Jesus's 'Sermon on the Mount,' he stressed Matthew 5:13-16:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Then he asked a question: "What do you want to do here at Osan?"

I pose the same question to you. What will you do with your time here at Osan? Will you sulk and mope and count the days until you can return to the States? Will you lose yourself in the dark side of Korea? Or will you use this time and this beautiful place as a chance to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ? As Christian women, we have been given so many amazing gifts from our Savior, not least among them is the gift of TRUTH. This truth is a light within us, and we have to ask ourselves: will we "put it under a bowl?" Or will we instead "put it on its stand" and "give light to everyone in the house?" Ladies, your words and actions are your "stand," and your "house" is Osan Air Base. Will you share the light?

What do you want to do here at Osan?

W.I.L.D. Weekend!

2010-06-07T01:38:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, several board members were fortunate enough to attend PWOC's W.I.L.D. training at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. W.I.L.D., which stands for "Women Intent on Leadership Development," is a time when leaders within in PWOC chapter get the opportunity to brainstorm strategies to apply the newly selected theme, network with other boards within the region, and receive God's vision and guidance for a new PWOC year. We are excited to share with you the 2010-2011 PWOC theme: "Shine in the Light of His Glory."

Salt, Light, City on a hill; if this is who Jesus says we are, let us "shine in the light of His glory." Jesus says in Matthew 5:16 for us to let our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

How do we begin letting our light shine? Let's look at three essential ways:

1. Abide: In John 15:4, Jesus instructs us to abide in Him. Abiding in Him causes us to bear much fruit; in essence, we shine. We begin to experience and can then spread His love. We begin to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him.

2. Intimacy: In Matthew 12:29, Jesus tells us what the greatest commandment is. We are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are to be intimately acquainted with Him and His Word. Through intimacy, we worship the Lord in spirit and truth. We shine as we are conformed into the image and likeness of our Lord Jesus.

3. Obedience: As we obey being doers of the Word and not only hearers, Christian character is developed. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We shine as our conduct clearly imitates both His truth and righteousness. This is the good works that men see, and this causes men to glorify our Father in Heaven.

The Light of the World says when we follow Him we will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. So let us Arise and Shine, being salt, light, and a city on a hill, offering hope and life to those that remain in darkness. The glory of the Lord has risen upon you. "Shine in the Light of His Glory."

As we break for summer vacation, we pray that you will reflect on this up-coming theme and come back refreshed and ready to serve God in the fall. Until then, safe travels and "shine in the light of His Glory!"

Our Co-Pilot?

2010-04-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

"Our Co-Pilot?"

by Joe Stowell

The bumper sticker “Jesus is my co-pilot” may be a well-intentioned sentiment, but it has always troubled me. Whenever I’m in the driver’s seat of my life, the destination is nowhere good. Jesus is not meant to be just a spiritual “co-pilot” giving directions every now and then. He is always meant to be in the driver’s seat. Period!

We often say that Jesus died for us, which of course is true. But there’s more to it than that. Because Jesus died on the cross, something inside of us died—the power of sin. It’s what Paul meant when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). We were essentially co-crucified with Him. With Jesus in the driver’s seat, the old destinations are off-limits. No more turning down the streets of self-centeredness, greed, or lust. No more off-road ventures into the swamp of pride or the ditch of bitterness. We were crucified with Him and He is at the wheel now! He died so that He alone can drive and define us.

So, if you’ve died and Christ lives in you, He’s not your co-pilot. Your joy is to let Him drive and define your life. There may be a few bumps in the road, but you can count on it—He’ll take you somewhere good.

Lord, I thank You for salvation,
For Your mercy, full and free;
Take my all in consecration,
Glorify Yourself in me. —Codner

Still at the wheel of your life? It’s time to let Jesus drive.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread Daily Devotional"

Spring Studies-Part II

2010-04-13T00:54:00.000-07:00

Ladies--

We hope you're all enjoying these two weeks off with your families to re-group and catch up on some much-needed rest! We also hope you'll come back refreshed and ready for our two new studies. Just a reminder that we'll reconvene Tuesday, April 20 from 9:00-11:00 in the Chapel Annex. We'll have food and fun and get started with 'Anointed, Transformed, and Redeemed: A Study of David' or 'Have a New Kid by Friday.' We look forward to seeing you!

As a side note, for those of you who just completed "Breaking Free," Beth Moore has released a new book called "So Long Insecurity: You've Been A Bad Friend To Us," which deals specifically with breaking the stronghold of insecurity. You can read a review of the book here. She has also been hosting discussions about the book on her blog, which you can find a link to on this site under "Some of Our Favorite Sites." If you're interested in continuing on with Beth in your journey to break free, I encourage you to check it out.

Have a safe and happy Spring Break!

He is RISEN!

2010-04-03T21:58:00.000-07:00

"Victory is on the Other Side of Failure"

by Glynnis Whitwer

"The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.’" Matthew 28:5-6a (NIV)

Told by a teacher he was too stupid to learn: Thomas Edison

Fired from his job at a newspaper because he didn’t have good ideas: Walt Disney

A music teacher told him he had no hope as a composer: Beethoven

Falsely accused, arrested, killed: Jesus Christ

The disciples of Jesus must have been shattered that Friday. For three years they followed the man from Nazareth. They watched Him heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, and even raise people from the dead. When Jesus said, "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (John 12:46, NAS), they got it. Darkness enveloped the hearts of their countrymen. They needed a "Light."

Twelve ordinary men abandoned everything to follow Jesus: jobs, family, and homes. Not with regret, but with hope. Hope for the promise Jesus offered. Look where it got them that Friday. Good Friday, we call it now. But it was anything but good to them. Jesus was dead – they’d witnessed the crucifixion. Only 11 now, they must have gathered that night after scattering throughout the city. Other followers joined them to mourn the death of the man they loved, and the death of the hope He offered.

On Saturday, they still gathered. No one left - though they could have. They could have packed up their things and put this failed adventure behind them. Back to fishing, back to family, back to normal. But no one left. In spite of what appeared to be complete failure of this new kingdom, everyone stayed. Faithful.

Saturday inched forward to noon, dusk, and then evening. The beauty of the night sky didn’t ease their pain. Perhaps they reminisced some. In hindsight, Jesus wasn’t really what they were expecting. When the prophets of old foretold a king would come to rescue them, they figured it would be someone imposing, with power, maybe with chariots to whip their enemies into submission. Some took longer than others to readjust their expectations. But when God opened their eyes to the beauty of His plan, they bought into it with their lives.

I’m sure troubled thoughts stole their sleep that Saturday night. Finally, in complete exhaustion their tired bodies overtook their worried minds. Sunday morning dawned. I imagine some woke up hoping it was all a bad dream. Then reality settled in, like heavy summer storm clouds. Jesus was still dead.

Two women got ready first and went to the tomb. Expecting to find the body of their beloved Savior, God treated them instead to a display of His power. With a violent earthquake shaking the ground, an angel of the Lord came from heaven, rolled back the stone covering the tomb and sat down on the rock. Hello!

The angel looked at the women, and spoke words that transformed them from hopeless to hope-filled: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee" (Matthew 28:5-7a, NIV).

Can you even imagine the celebration? It had only looked like failure. Instead, it was glorious victory! Hope wasn’t dead. Jesus was alive! The disciples learned a lesson they would never forget: When God is involved, things aren’t always what they seem.

Today we see problems and failures with the same eyes as the disciples. Even knowing that God is able to do things beyond what we can imagine, when we look at a "failure," we often only see an ending. God, however, sees an opportunity for a new beginning. As we celebrate Easter, may that truth nestle itself into our heart. With God all things are possible. He is risen!

Dear Lord, my heart is filled with thanksgiving and praise for You. How can I begin to thank You for sending Jesus, and for His sacrifice for me? Thank You also for the lesson that nothing is too big for You. Help me remember that truth when I’m facing what looks like failure. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

**Taken from the website "Proverbs 31 Ministries: Daily Devotions". Please visit their website for more devotions like this one.

Faithlift 2010

2010-04-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, several of our ladies were able to attend 'Faithlift: 2010' at Yongsan Army Garrison in Seoul. The theme of the conference was "Bloom Where You Are Planted," and attendees were able to choose from several different seminars including "Bloom in Your Home," "Bloom During Separation," "Bloom in Times of Stress," and "Bloom in Parenting." The two-day conference was a time to enhance spiritual development, fellowship with other believers, and increase our faith in Jesus Christ.

The over-all message of the conference focused on Colossians 2:6-7: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." All of ladies had a wonderful time and left with their faith lifted and ready to serve Jesus!

Fulfilling Time

2010-03-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

This devotional comes from the book "Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives" by Jocelyn Green.

'For we are His workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God

prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.'

-Ephesians 2:10

"I know why my husband is here. But why am I here? The question haunted me as a new military wife.

With the transfer from Washington, D.C. to the small town of Homer, Alaska, Rob's career advanced; mine seemed cut off. I struggled to find a new purpose to call my own. It was easy to invest in a supportive role when Rob was home, but when he was at sea, I simply filled time. It took me a while to truly fulfill time by discovering what God would have me do.

Patti Morse, an Air Force wife of more than twenty-five years, speaks to all of us who ache to know God has a specific purpose for us when she says, 'God created me and prepared specific good works beforehand which I am to walk in to bring Him glory on this earth. So when I wake up alone in a foreign country where I cannot understand or speak the language and my husband is gone and all family and friends are far away . . . I remember that it is GOD who has placed me here--not the military--and I am here for a very specific purpose which God has ordained!'

When Ellie Kay married her fighter pilot husband, she left a successful business as a broker. Yet when she put all of her skills and experience to work paying off her family's debt and sharing her methods with other military families, God blessed her work and ministry. Now, with twelve books in print and opportunities to travel the world, she is known as America's Family Financial Expert. Ellie Kay is fulfilling God's purpose for her!

Not all of us will make the news when we do what God calls us to do, but we can all be sure that God does indeed have a plan for us. Carolyn Custis James says:

'A married woman faces a. . . problem when she believes the plan she's on belongs to her husband. Her plan seems eclipsed by God's plan for him. . . She braces herself for his next big decision and the adjustments she will have to make. . . When someone asks a married woman why she moved to town, nine times out of ten she will say it is because God brought her husband to such and such a job, and plenty of seminary wives and women on the mission field justify their presence by saying, 'God led my husband here.' I understand what they mean, but it troubles me that so few women have any inkling that God relocated them because it was His plan for her. It's hard to have a clear sense of purpose or calling if you're convinced you are only tagging along.

God has a unique plan for each woman. We are called not to sit on the sidelines but to be players, active contributors, to run the race He has marked out for us. If God is sovereign, then every day of our lives has meaning and purpose because God planned it. We are not left in the wake of God's plan for someone else. No matter how intertwined our lives become with the lives of husbands, friends, and family members, God's plan for us is individual and personal.'"

If you're interested in reading more devotionals like this one, check out Jocelyn's website here:

Faith Deployed

New Studies

2010-03-17T23:24:00.000-07:00

Hello, ladies! We've decided on our new studies to finish out the semester. The studies are: "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David," by Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur; and "Have a New Kid by Friday," a parenting study from Focus on the Family by Kevin Leman. Each of the studies will begin on April 20 and last six weeks (bringing the semester to a close on May 25). If you are unsure which study to choose, here are some links to more information about each:

"Anointed, Transformed, Reedeemed: A Study of David"

"Have a New Kid by Friday"

We hope you'll join us for one of these studies and learn new ways to grow in your relationship with Christ. We look forward to seeing you soon!

What We've Been Up To

2010-03-07T23:06:00.000-08:00

This spring we've been pleased to offer several different studies, including Beth Moore's "Breaking Free," the 2009 Revised Version, and Beverly Fishback's "Loving Your Military Man" on Tuesday mornings. The Tuesday evening study has been Beth Moore's "Esther." We hope that whatever study you chose, it has been a blessing to you, and you've grown closer to Christ through it! We've enjoyed having you and, don't worry--the semester isn't over yet! New studies will be offered soon to finish out our time before summer. More details to come!

KoJeon Antiques

2010-01-31T23:11:00.000-08:00

Our January Social was trip to KoJeon Antiques. About 15 ladies braved the cold for some fabulous shopping and a traditional Korean meal. Everyone had a great time, found some fantastic bargains, and decided they wouldn't mind going back. :)

We hope to see you all at our next social!

PWOC Christmas Party

2010-01-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

Last month, our president Leah Downs hosted the annual PWOC Christmas party at her home. It was a wonderful occasion in which ladies from all of our studies could get together for great food, fellowship, and--of course--presents! However, in lieu of gifts, we opted for a verse exchange. Each lady picked a verse that meant something special to her and the presented it in a unique way. It was amazing to see how God worked, speaking to each lady through the verse she chose at "random."

Thanks to Leah for hosting, and thank you to all of ladies who came out. We hope to see all of you again in future PWOC studies!

Welcome to Osan PWOC!

2010-01-01T22:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Osan Chapter of Protestant Women of the Chapel's blog! We hope to use this page as an effective ministry tool, helping to serve followers of Christ here at Osan and around the world. Please be patient as we work to get this page fully up and running. Look around, leave a comment, and please let us know what you'd like to see on this page.

In Christ,

The PWOC Board